As the music legend, Ebenezer Obey clocked 80 on Sunday April 3, the celebrant took to his Instagram page to mark his day. He shared photos and captioned:
“The legend clocks 80 today. Thank God for the strength and thank you to the family and friends for their endless support”.
Ebenezer Obey was born Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi in Idogo, Nigeria. He was nicknamed the Chief Commander. Obey is a Nigerian Juju musician who is of an Egba–Yoruba ethnic background and of the Owu subgroup of the Egba.
He was born on 3rd April 1942 in Idogo, Nigeria. Chief commander got married to his heartthrob, Juliana Olaide Olufade in 1963. They were married for 48 years before she passed on at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on 23 August 2011 at the age of 67.
Career
Obey began his professional career as far back as the mid-1950s after moving to Lagos. After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar’s band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlife–jùjú fusion.
The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label.
Obey began experimenting with Yoruba percussion style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars, and talking drums. Obey’s musical strengths lie in weaving intricate Yoruba axioms into dance-floor compositions.
As is characteristic of Nigerian Yoruba social-circle music, the Inter-Reformers band excel in praise-singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons.
Obey, however, is also renowned for Christian spiritual themes in his music and has since the early-1990s retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry.
Many of Obey’s old songs are still widely known till today because they remain evergreen and relevant. Some popular musicians have also had remixes of his singles; like Music star Simi’s Aimasiko.
Some of his well known songs are:
- 1967- Olomi Gbo Temi
- 1968- Ore Mi E Si Pelepele
- 1969- Ode To Nso Eledumare
- 1973- And His Miliki Sound
- 1975- Mukulu Muke Maa Jo
- 1977- Eda To Mose Okunkun
- 1978- Igba Owuro Lawa
- 1987- Aimasiko
- 1994- I Am a Winner
- 2000- Promised Land
- 2002- Ase Oluwa
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls celebrating Veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie as he clocked 75. Read details here
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